Big Boys is a hilarious satire on corporate culture which the New York Times called ‘rip-roaringly funny’, with ‘snappy dialogue and non-stop mayhem’. This ‘over-the-top comic fable’, as Orloff describes it, pokes fun at the peculiarities of the business world in a style he says is ‘influenced by the surreal energy and comic rhythms of vaudeville comedy’.

Public performances are Friday, November 17 – Sunday, November 19. The Friday – Saturday performances are at 8pm and the Sunday performance is at 3pm.

This two-character award winning comedy follows the relationship between a self-satisfied, grandiose, amoral and very successful boss, and his insecure, moral, eager-to-please and very unhappy would-be protégé. Who will win their madcap competition over how the business should be run?

Maximillien Jadin

Actors Rep Associate Artistic Director Christine Probst directs. Luxembourg actor Maximillien Jadin plays Norm and Actors Rep Artistic Director Erik Abbott plays Victor. Caspar Rundegren was originally slated to play Norm, but left the production prior to the start of rehearsals to pursue a professional opportunity in his native Sweden.

Director Probst said, ‘We were of course disappointed that Caspar was ultimately unable to be in Big Boys, but we congratulate him on the opportunity. Fortunately, Maximillien was available and we are very excited to be working with an actor of his calibre and training. It says a lot about the depth of experience and ability in the professional acting community in Luxembourg that we were able to find such a such a fine actor so quickly.’

Jadin, most recently seen onstage in Ashcan at Théâtre National du Luxembourg (TNL), trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Since returning to Luxembourg, he has worked at TNL, both in Ashcan and in Den Ubu als Kinnek, Coco Chanel, and at the Grand Théâtre and Kaleidoskop Theater. He teaches at LNBD Dudelange.

Probst said that she was drawn to the play because of its ‘Marx Brothers-like humour’—echoing what critics have written about it. One, in 2011, called it ‘a fine-tuned study in silliness’ and Probst noted that this type of outrageously ‘kind of absurd’ comic work is a first for Actors Rep. ‘We’ve done several plays that had humour’, she said, ‘but we’ve never done a full-on comedy’, adding ‘we thought it was about time’. She added that the Arendt House auditorium was the ‘perfect’ setting for the production. ‘We’re really excited to be able to bring Big Boys to this wonderful space. Arendt House has been incredibly supportive—audiences will really enjoy being here for this show.’

Erik Abbott

The play features Norman, the newly hired assistant and would-be protégé to Victor, the CEO. Their working relationship at first appears relatively normal but descends quickly into a wild comic ride.

Actors Rep wishes to express its gratitude to Arendt House for its generosity in hosting this production of Big Boys. In performing this corporate play in a corporate setting, Actors Rep brings to the doorstep of the Luxembourg business community a boisterous laugh filled event that (gently) pokes fun at business—juxtaposing the onstage fun with its real-world counterpart.

Rehearsal photos (with thanks to B.U.R.O.S. in Strassen for use of their space — http://buros.lu) :

Big Boys, by Rich Orloff

Arendt House

41 Avenue J. F. Kennedy

2082 Luxembourg-Kirchberg

Public Performances:

Friday, November 17 at 20.00

Saturday, November 18 at 20.00

Sunday, November 19 at 15.00 (matinée)

Tickets:

Adults – 20 € / Students – 10 €

Email: ActorsRep.tickets@gmail.com

OR

Phone: (+352) 35 63 39

Big Boys is presented by special arrangement with the playwright, Rich Orloff.